Chapter IV

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Well, now I’m going to begin.”

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading “You said they were in the big candy-jar, Polly;” smacking his lips.

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You said they were in the big candy-jar, Polly;” smacking his lips.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

a quad with a square body

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

a long fixed look

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

the act of departing

From this reading Well, now I’m going to begin.”

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Well, now I’m going to begin.”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “You said they were in the big candy-jar, Polly;” smacking his lips.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

a Hebrew minor prophet

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading “You said they were in the big candy-jar, Polly;” smacking his lips.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

imaginative intellectual play

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

a form of address for a man

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Well, now I’m going to begin.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

do one's shopping

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

the act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand

From this reading “You said they were in the big candy-jar, Polly;” smacking his lips.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading “You said they were in the big candy-jar, Polly;” smacking his lips.

in or at that place or location

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “You said they were in the big candy-jar, Polly;” smacking his lips.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Well, now I’m going to begin.”

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “You said they were in the big candy-jar, Polly;” smacking his lips.

which person or people

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading “Yes--oh! and it stood on the shelf that ran along inside the window; and there was a little bit of a man who kept the shop, and he had a little bit of a wife who helped him, and”-- “Why ain’t they big as Mr. Beebe, and big as Mrs. Beebe?” cried Joel, putting his hands out as far as he could reach in front of him; “I like ’em big.

an affirmative

From this reading “Yes, go on,” said Joel, bringing down his gaze as Polly’s hands fell to her lap.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Of course,” said Polly; “but if you can’t have real ones, it’s better to have make-believe story ones.